Adoption information for birth parents
Information for birth parents
If you are the parent or a relative of a child who is being adopted then this information is for you. It will give you information about adoption, what it means to you and your family. We know that the loss of a child through adoption is likely to have a lifelong effect on you and your family. It is important that you have an understanding of what adoption means for you and your family.
What is adoption?
Children can only be placed for adoption if or when the court has made a Placement Order or parents are agreeing to an adoption.
Adoption is a court order which creates a new legal relationship between a child and his/her adoptive family. Adoption permanently ends
the legal relationship between the child and his/her birth family. Once an adoption order is made it cannot be revoked.
If your child is made the subject of an adoption order, she/he will become part of the adoptive family and will no longer be legally related to you or anyone else in your family. However, if it is considered by the courts to be in your child's best interests, it is still possible for you to receive some information about how she/he is doing after the adoption order is made.
Whether you agree to your child being adopted or not, it can be very painful to come to terms with the idea that your child is, or may be, adopted, and you may well want to have some support.
In Hartlepool we can refer you to the After Adoption Support Service. This is a free service, which gives you the opportunity to talk about the process and get support through the adoption process and beyond. You can get more information about the service on 0800 840 2020 or information@afteradoption.org.uk
More information is available to download in the leaflet "A birth parent's guide to adoption".
After adoption website www.afteradoption.org.uk
